The Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers are both bidding to bring the WNBA to their cities. Discover the exciting plans and key figures behind each bid.
The Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers are both trying to bring the WNBA to their cities.
Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers Push for WNBA Expansion
The Pistons announced Friday that team governor Tom Gores submitted an official bid on Thursday on behalf of an ownership group aiming to add a team to Detroit.
At the same time, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reported that ownership from the 76ers also placed an official bid for a WNBA expansion team. This comes after a press conference a few weeks ago with team governor Josh Harris and others, showing their intent to make it happen.
Detroit’s bid includes an ownership group with some big names: Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp, and NBA legends Grant Hill and Chris Webber. Webber is a Detroit native, and Hill once played for the Pistons during his career.
“This is an exciting opportunity to welcome the WNBA back to Detroit and bring additional investment and economic activity into the city,” Gores said. “For the WNBA this is home, and our bid represents an unprecedented opportunity for the league to come full circle and effect a long-hoped-for Detroit homecoming. No city is more prepared to embrace the team as a community asset that drives unity and common ground.”
The bid also includes plans to build a new WNBA practice facility and team headquarters, while games would be played at Little Caesars Arena—the home of the Pistons and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.
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Detroit isn’t new to the WNBA scene
The Detroit Shock was one of the first expansion teams in the league and played from 1998 to 2009. They even won three championships before the team moved and became the Tulsa Shock in 2010, and later the Dallas Wings in 2016.
On the other side, the 76ers’ bid is getting support from some major players too. Philadelphia insider Nick Kariuki reported earlier this month that Comcast is joining as a minority stakeholder. Kariuki also mentioned that Philadelphia’s bid “has been in the works since 2021” and has been “spearheaded by comedian Wanda Sykes and her wife Alex Niedbalski-Sykes.”
Both cities are in the running for the WNBA’s 16th franchise during a time of rapid league growth. The Golden State Valkyries will be the league’s 13th team when they start playing this year, while the Toronto Tempo is set to be the 14th team in the 2026 season. There’s also a yet-to-be-named club in Portland that will join as the 15th team in 2026.
Bill Bradley of the Detroit Free Press noted that several ownership groups are trying to become the 16th franchise. Past discussions have involved the Cleveland Cavaliers, a Nashville group with Candace Parker and Peyton Manning, an Austin group with Kevin Durant, a Kansas City group with Patrick Mahomes, a St. Louis group with Jayson Tatum, and a Houston group with Rockets governor Tilman Fertitta.
Both the Pistons and the 76ers are eager to make their mark in the WNBA, adding more excitement and investment to their communities.
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